A is for: American Cinema. The year in review has shown us that American Cinema produces a wide range of quality films whether they are by the veterans (Munich
Munich), the Independents (Me and You and Everyone we Know), late bloomers (The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada), Outsiders (The New World), Cartoon/Animation (The Corpse Bride). Man, American Cinema is still something to be admired.
B is for: Batman Begins. Christopher Nolan made a gallant effort at making us look at the caped crusader in a new, dark and realistic light. I just wish Batman would of smacked Rachel Dawes…what a bitch she was.
C is for: Capuano, Antonio. The Neapolitan director had a shining moment this year for two reasons: 1. Capuano had a retrospective of his body of work at the Museum of Modern Art here in New York City. 2. Mario’s War, his new film, is getting great reviews.
D is for: Documentaries. Enjoy the documentaries that are out now, support them, because things are going good for docs, but I’m sure that won’t last long. 2005 is definitely going to be in the Doc history books.
E is for: the End of Merchant/Ivory. This past may, the world of cinema lost Ismail Merchant, the producing end of the Merchant/Ivory Productions. The company will remain but what he brought to the each film will only be memory. The White Countess marks the end of an era.
F is for: Ferrara, Abel. Ferrara premiered Mary at numerous festivals including San Sebastian and it is already been released in France and hitting the screens in America in 2006.
Binoche in Abel Ferrara’s Mary.
G is for: Golden Globes. The upcoming Golden Globes has given out a surprising set of nominations to smaller films such as The Squid and the Whale & The Constant Gardener get the spotlight.
H is for: Huge Apes. It is not every year that gigantic apes stomped through cities on our big screen. 2005 marked the return of King Kong.
I is for: Ioncinema. This is my first year working with Eric and the gang and it has been an experience.
J is for: Jesse Eisenberg. The star of Rodger Dodger, Jesse Eisenberg has been making good career choices. The Squid and the Whale is a film where the young actor shines again.
K is for: Keane. This is an intense film that had small release in 2005. Lodge H. Kerrigan keeps making films that psychologically breakdown the viewer.
Kerrigan (left) directs actor Damian Lewis.
L is for: Lee Jones, Tommy. Bravo to Mr. Jones for his directorial debut – The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.
M is for: Margaret Brown. Brown helped to get the word out about the great American songwriter Townes Van Zandt with her compelling documentary. Be Here to Love Me
N is for: Never Give Up!. Richard Sheppard wrote a good article in Filmmaker magazine “Escape from Movie Jail” about being a young filmmaker ostracized by the industry and what it took for him to go from next big thing – to failure – to independent filmmaker – then to being the director of the Pierce Bronson comedy The Matador.
O is for: Oliver Stone: Stone has gone from the ancient war of the Macedonian conqueror Alexander to the modern war on terrorism directing an untitled Sept. 11th project .
P is for: Paradise Now: This is a challenging film that tries to get behind the mind of a suicide bomber.
Q is for: Questions. In my interviews for Ioncinema I got to ask a lot of questions I’ve wanted to get answers to – from filmmakers that I admire. Now I know my interviews aren’t great, but I hope in the past year there have been at least one or two you really enjoyed. [Ed’s note: there is always room for improvement – but Justin had a lot more than 2 great interviews!]
R is for: Russell Crowe. Cinderella Man makes headlines not because of his performance, (which was nominated for a Golden Globe) but for his temper tantrums in hotel rooms. Let’s save the extra energy for even more stronger film roles.
S is for: Saraband. Ingmar Bergman is back. Bergman is living master of filmmaking. A man who has inspired filmmakers like Fellini and Tarkovsky, both of whom are dead, is still alive and making films. Watch Saraband.
T is for: Tim Burton. Releasing two films Charlie and Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride is quite a challenge I am sure.
U is for: Ullmann, Liv. She gives us yet again a great performance with Saraband
V is for: Volver. Pedro Almodovar is now in post-production of his new film with the beautiful Penelope Cruz. She was at top form when she worked with him on films like Live Flesh and All About my Mother.
W is for: Woody Allen. One of the filmmakers, in my eyes, that still has so much to give even if it seems like he makes the same movie over and over again. What is important is in-between the lines. Critics expect Woody to make monumental movies like Annie Hall every time out and when he doesn’t – they bash him. Woody is got to love it when he shuts them up with a great movie like Match Point.
X is for: Xiao, Jiang. Xiao made her directorial debut with Electric Shadows – a Chinese film about the power of the Cinema.
Y is for: Younger, Ben. Well I think it’s a disappointment that the director of Boiler Room has a new film called Prime – a comedy with Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman. I thought his next was going to be another gritty New York film but it’s good to see him moving up in budget.
Z is for: Zorro, The Legend of. Ok, American Cinema had some bad apples this year too.
